BC Hydro has opened a new electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in Port Alberni with eight new charging ports to help support EV adoption on Vancouver Island.
"This new electric vehicle charge hub in Port Alberni continues our work with BC Hydro and other partners to make cleaner options more accessible and affordable for all British Columbians," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. "With more than 650 BC Hydro charging ports now available in communities throughout B.C., we are building a public charging network that's ready to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and will support economic growth in our province."
The site is located in the parking lot at Save-on-Foods at 3756 10th Avenue. It has four 180-kilowatt chargers, which can add up to 180-kilometres of driving to an average EV in about 10 minutes. In addition to being faster, the units also offer dual charging or power sharing, which allows two customers to use the same charger. For example, a 180-kilowatt charger can adjust to provide two 90-kilowatt charging units, which allows up to eight EVs to use these four chargers at once.
"As more families and businesses switch to electric vehicles, we're making sure the infrastructure is there to support them," said Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim. "This new charging hub in Port Alberni helps local residents and visitors travel with confidence while supporting cleaner, greener transportation in the Alberni Valley."
BC Hydro also has an existing EV fast-charging site in Port Alberni with two 50-kilowatt chargers at 3455 Johnston Road. The two sites now provide a combined 10 charging ports for EV users in the community.
The adoption of EVs across British Columbia has increased significantly with more than 210,000 EVs on the road in B.C. As BC Hydro continues to build its fast-charging network, it plans to focus on building more hub sites with multiple chargers along highway corridors and highly populated areas to provide a faster and more convenient experience for its customers.
"We're expanding B.C.'s clean electricity supply and strengthening our provincial grid to power homes, businesses, industry and the future of transportation," said Charlotte Mitha, President and CEO of BC Hydro. "These new EV chargers in Port Alberni are part of our investment in electric vehicle infrastructure - supporting EV adoption, reducing range anxiety on Vancouver Island and helping more British Columbians transition to zero-emission driving."
BC Hydro is working to build a robust EV charging network across the province. Recent milestones include:
- Network expansion: In the past year alone, BC Hydro has tripled the size of its public charging network, adding 418 new charging ports.
- State-of-the-art hubs: About two-dozen new hubs have opened in every region of the province, each featuring 8 to 22 charging ports, to help minimize wait times for drivers.
- Next-gen fast chargers: BC Hydro deployed new 350-kilowatt chargers at some locations, capable of delivering up to 100 kilometers of range in just five minutes.
- Completion of the Electric Highway: With fast chargers placed about every 150 kilometers along major routes, the Government of B.C. completed the Electric Highway in September 2024. BC Hydro operates 111 of the highway's 155 charging locations, making up more than 70 per cent of the network.
BC Hydro's provincewide fast charging network currently includes 697 charging ports at 155 sites in communities throughout B.C. BC Hydro is looking to reach 800 charging ports in its network by spring 2026. Later this year, BC Hydro will debut its first 400-kilowatt charger, offering 100 kilometres of range in just three minutes. The chargers are funded in a partnership with the Province of B.C. and Natural Resources Canada.
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